Vault light



W. L. WALKER.

VAULT LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED AMAI( 3. |919.

1,418,341 l'Patexltef'June 6, 1922.

ZSHEETS-SHEET l.

W. L. WALKER.

VAULT LI-GHT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3,. 1919.

1,418,341. Pamuune 6,1922.

HEETS-SHEET 2.

l Mmm @www WILLIAML. WALKER, or NEWYORK, n. Y.

VAULT LIGHT.

` Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 6, 1922,

Application filed May 3, 1919.vr Serial No. 294,381.

To @ZZ ech-om t may concern.'

Be it knownpthat l, iiiTiLLjniM L. lWALKER, citizen of the UnitedStates., and resident of New York city, inthe county of New York andState ot New Yorlnhave invented 1n Vault.

new and useful improvements Lights, ot which the lfollowing-isaspecifi-v cation.

This invention relates to a frame for vault lights `and moreparticularly Ato a vault light iframe adapted to be Completely formedand y.assembled before being installed. My improvedvaultlight frame isparticularly adapted'to be employed in sidewalks to illuminate the spacetherebeneath but it is applicable in any situation where a covering isdesired which will both trans'- niit light and also be substantial, asfor eX- ample acover for inside courts, sun parlors, green-houses, etc.I

Heretofore in installing vault lights in sidewalks it has been.customary to build a ioor under the sidewalks, to place the glasslenses in Vbeaver board which has been perforated at proper intervals tohold the lenses in spaced relationship. then to lay in reinforcing rodsbetween the lenses and Vfinally to till the space between the lenseswith a cement or the like. When employing this mode ofconstructioncarpenters must lirst be employed to build the floor; thecarpenters are then followed by the workmen'who install the vault lightlenses and tie-rods and cement; andthen the installation must be left`for a considerable period of time to permit the cement to set; Sitterthe cement hasrset the wooden floor must be removed. Thus theinstallation not only takes considerable time but it is also undulyexpensive. Moreover,- in busy streets this method of construction isalso highly objectionable for the reason that it obstructs the sidewalkfor a considerable period oi time, frequently tor a week or more.

The principal object of the present invention is to overcome theaforesaid difficulties andl to provide a vault light construction whichcan be completely assembled bet'ore being installed, so that only arelatively small amount of time and labor is required in making aninstallation. Another object is to provide a vault light frame which isrigid and substantial and which is at the same time easy and inexpensiveto construct. Still'another object of the invention is to provide'improved means forA the prevention of slipping on the vault light afterit has been installed.`

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate' certain preferredembodiments of the invention,+ vFigure l `is a plan view4 of oneembodiment, witha portion of the cement or filling material broken awayto show ther frame construction.; y l

Figure 2 is avjplan view of another em-r bodiment, showing 'a modifiedframe construction lhaving a reinforcing wire mesh and' with the cementor `other filling material applied to a'portion of the frame;

Figure 8 isa section on line 3-3` `of FigivQ/g .Figure Fig. l;

Figure 5 is a section of a further embodi- `ment showing `wire meshstrips inserted between the longitudinal members of the frame;

Figure is a section on line 6 6 of Figures 7 to l2 inclusive aresections of modified forms of frame members;

Figure 13 is a section through a glass lens and its supporting frameyshowinga frame having substantially the same cross-section as shown inFig. 9; f

Figure la is a perspective detailview of a portion of a frameconstructed from members having the same cross-section as shown in. Fig.10; I

lFigure l5 is a perspective detail view of a portion ol further modifiedframe having'small intermediate' ribs in the 'form of rods for retainingthe cement or other filling in place;

F igurei6 is alongitudinal section of a taching av safety tread; n

Figure is a section on line ifi-17 of Fig. 16;

Figure 1.8 is a section of a frame member and modified form of safetytread;

`Figure ]9 is ai longitudinal section of a 'tramev member showing afurther method of attaching a safety tread, andfurther showirame membershowing one .method of ating the; frame member bowed downwardly forgreater strength;

Figure 'Q0 is a section on line 21-21 of Fig. 19, with the safety treadomitted; and Figure 21 is an enlarged sectionalview of a lens'andsupporting trame, such as shown in Fig. 3. f

4l is a section on line 4-4 of ilo , pered in this manner.

transverse members or ribs l' of lighter cross-section than the framemembers L and T, and the annular members A are similarlyconnectedby'intermediate members or ribs D of substantially circularcross-section, as shown in Figs. l and 4. The spaces Sbetween the mainframe members are filled with cement C or other suitable materialdepending on the use to which the device is to be put. The

intermediate frame members I and D being of less cross-section than themain frame members, thus become entirely embedded in the cementv and actas reinforcing'members. To further secure the cement or the like in thespaces S and to prevent it from beingY displaced by walking upon it, theframe mem bers are tapered upwardly and downwardly so that'they havegreatest cross-section at theirimid-portion M as shown in Fig. 4. Eachof the frame members, including the longitudinal members L, thetransverse members T, the intermediate members I and the annular membersA, are preferably ta- Ther annular members A are tapered downwardly onthe inside and are thus adapted to support the glass lenses kG, vthelenses being spaced from the annular members by bushings B of rubberorother suitable vmaterial and rbeing held in the annular members bymeans of hooks 71 extending through lugs jt' provided at thev bottomedgeof the members A., and into recesses in the sides of the lenses, thismeans for mounting lens glasses being described and claimed in my formerPatent No. 1,258,066, granted March 5, 1918.

The preferred embodiment of my inven tion, illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 4L in that it comprises a frameF having longitudinal members Lftransverse members T, annular members A,and glass lenses Gr mounted in the annular members. It diers from theframe shown in Figs. 1 and 1, in, that the intermediate frame membersare omitted and the longitudinal and transverse members are cut' down inheight and a sheet of wire mesh N is cut to lit inside the frame F andrests on top of the longitudinall and transverse frame members. OpeningsO are punched in the mesh to allow the annular members A to projectthrough it. The mesh thus forms a reinforcement for the cement' or othersuitable material which is filled into frame F. l

Obviously a frame could be constructed having intermediate frame membersT and D also'using wire mesh as shown in Fig. Q

for further reinforcement.

Instead of cutting down both the longitudinal members L and transversemembers T, which would weaken the frame to some extent, only vthetransverse members T may be cut down, and insteadof a single sheet ofywire mesh covering the entire frame, strips of mesh M maybe cut tok litbetween the longitudinal members yL and rest upon the top of thetransverse members T,- as shown in Figs. 5 andy 6.

In Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive l 'have shown several cross-sections of framemembers which may be used. Figure 8 shows the preferred embodiment,however,this vcrosssection giving greatest strength with the leastweight of metal. Tt will be lnotedthat it is in the general form of an lbeam with the top of the beam narrower than the bottom thus exposing asmall metal area on the wearing surface of the vault construction. InFigure 13 I have shown the annular member A as having an outside surfacesimilar to the side of the Vsection shown in Fig. 9.

The longitudinal frame members L and transverse members T may have thecross-- section shown in Fig. lOand when cast would appear as shown in'Fig. 14. This form of construction is welly adaptedr to the use of wiremesh as shownin Figs. 5 and ,6.

in Fig. 15 I have shown a further embodiment of my invention, similar toFig. 1 except that two modified forms of reinforcing members are shownconnecting .the longitudinal and transverse members L and` T of theframe. In one form the reinforcing members are shown as rods l circularin cross-section and cast integrally with the frame. ln the second formthe reinforcement comprises a thin web of metal Jvl which maybe formedby slightly separating the two halves of the iiask whenrthe frame iscast, thus allowing metal to i'iow between the members L and Tformingthe web. After llO being cast the web` JL could be punched full.

of holes .l2 to allow the concrete filler to pass from one side of theweb 'J1 to the other, thus binding the concrete` firmly in the frame andthus reinforcing it. rThis metal web would serve much the same purposeasv the wire mesh illustrated in Fig. 2.

Tt is obvious either or both of the forms of reinforcement illustratedin Fig. 15 could be transverse portions ot the treads resting on theuppei` surfaces of the members L and T. T he ends of the safety treadsST are preferably tapered as shown in Fig. 16 to assist in holding thetreads in the slots and cooperating with the tapered ends are wedges whaving inclined faces engaging said. beveled ends, the wedges fw beingsecured in the ends of the slots by means ot screws s. The safety treadsinstead of being ishaped may be rectangular in cross-section as shown atST. Fig. 18.

In Figures 19, 20. i have shown a preferred method of holding the safetytreads ST in the slots s in the members L and T. The ends of the safetytreads are tapered and screws having wedge-shaped heads in cooperatetherewith to hold the treads in the slots. in view of the tact thatconsiderable metal is cut away to form the slot to receive the tread, lhave shown the frame member L bowed downwardly at E for rein'liorcement.

The vpreferred method ot assembling my improved vault light is asfollows: The trame is iirst cast with allot' the parts li, T, l, D and Aintegrally connected together. Atter the trame has been thus formed thespaces S are iilled with cement or the like and the cement is allowed toset. The `glasses G are then mounted in the openings in the annularmembers A. When employing the Form ot construction shown in 2, the Frameis first cast with all the tr me parts integrally connected together. Asheet ot wire mesh is then out just large enough to {it inside the trameF, with holes punched therein large enough to allow the annular membersA to pass therethrough, and is then placed into the frame F resting onthe members L and T. The entire :Frame with the exception oi the annularmembers is then lilled with cement. When employing` the saiety treads asillustrated in Figs. 1, 16, 17. lil. 19 and 20, the treads are mountedafter the cement has been applied. Thus the vault light can becomnletely assembled before being installed, and indeed the vault lightis preferably completely assembled at the factory before beingtransported to the place of the` installation.

One of the salient :features oit the invention resides in the mode ofconstriiction and application oi the safety treads whereby they arereadily detachable and may be-revplaced when worn down. the treadspreterably beingl 'formed ot lead or a composi tion ol: lead and kemerywhich is adapted to prevent slipping but which may not be as durable asthe other parts of the construction. Another improved feature ot theinvention resides in cross-sectional shaping of the trame members,whereby a maximum ot strength for a minimum of metal is obltained with afurther result that the cement which fills in the spaces between theframe members is supported in part by the sides very strong and rigidconstruction isob-` tamed.

l claim:

1. A vault light frame comprising a plurality of members securedtogether with spaces therebetween, said members having a cross-sectionwith bowed sides so asto holdl cement, or the like in said spaces, andsaid frame having an opening therethrough adapted to support a lenstherein and removablemeans for positively retaining a lens in saidopening.

2. A vault light frame comprising a plurality of members integrally casttogether with open spaces therebetween, said members being adapted tohold cement or the like for filling said spaces, and said frame havingopenings therethrough adapted to support lenses therein, said openingstapering downwardly in diameter.

3. A vault light 'frame comprising a network of longitudinal andtransverse mem bers integrally cast together with open spacestherebetween, said members tapering upwardly in cross-section throughoutat least a portion of their depth so as to hold cement or the like Jforiilling said spaces, and said frame having socket openings therethroughhaving inclined walls for supporting engagement with lens seatedtherein.

4. Av vault light frame comprising a network ot longitudinal andtransverse members 'integrally cast together with open spacestherebetween, said members tapering upwardly in cross-section throughoutat leasta portion of their depth so as to hold cement or the like insaid spaces, said openings tapering downwardly in diameter.

5. A vault light frame comprising a plurality of members arranged inintersectin planes and with spaces therebetween, sait members having a`substantially Lshaped cross-section so as to hold cement or the 4like insaid spaces, and rigid members of' less vertical depth than said Ishaped members for holding the latter Ain fixed relation, said framehaving socket openings therethrough adapted to support lenses therein.

6. A vault light frame comprising a plurality of rigid members securedvtogether with open spaces therebetween, said members having across-section with inwardly bowed sides so as to hold cement or the likefor closing said spaces, said fra-me having socket openings therethroughadapted to support lenses therein and means Yfor retaining lenses withinsaid openings.

7 A vault light frame comprising a plurality of members secured togetherwith open spaces therebetween, said members having a substantiallyI-shaped cross-section so as to hold cement or the like for filling saidspaces, the top surfaces of said members being narrower than the bottomsurfaces, and constructed and arranged to lie substantially inthe planeo'i and to form a portion ot the wear surface of the frame, and said'frame having openings therethrough adapted to support lenses therein.

8. A vault light frame comprising a plurality or members securedtogether with spaces therebetween said members adapted to hold cement orthe like in said spaces, a wire mesh covering said trame, the mesh `and'frame having openings therethrough adapted to receive and supportlenses therein.

9. A vault light trame comprising a plurality oil members securedtogether with spaces therebetween said members adapted to hold cement orthe lilre in said spaces, a wire mesh covering said iframe, the mesh and'frame having openings tl'ierethrough adapted to receive and supportlenses 'there-v in and the said mesh adapted to be surrounded by saidcement.

10. A vault light 'frame comprising a network oit longitudinal andtransverse members integrally cast together with spaces therebetween,said longitudinal and transverse members being connected together attheir junctions by annular members having openings therein adapted tohold lenses and a wire mesh covering said 'frame and provided withopenings punched Vtherein i to receive said annular members.

l1. A vault light frame comprising a network o1 longitudinal andtransverse mem* bers integrally cast together with spaces therebetween,said'longitudinal and transverse members being connected together attheir junctions by annular members having openings therein adapted tohold lenses, the said annular members being ot greater height thancertain of said men'ibers, and a wire mesh covering said 'trame andprovided with openings therein to receive said annular members, so thatsaid mesh lies below the plane of the upper surface ol said annularmembers.

12. A vault light frame comprising a network olf longitudinal `andtransverse members integrally cast together with spaces therebetween,said longitudinal and transverse members being connected together' at vtheir junctions by annular members having openings therein adapted tohold lenses, the said annular members being of greater height than saidtransverse members, and wire mesh covering said trame and so litted asto upon said transverse members and below the plane oll the uppersurface orf said annular members.

151A vault light :trame comprising a supporting member o'lf metal havinga slot in its upper surface and a safety tread of substantiallyrectangular cross-section provided with laterally extending flanges andmounted in said slot.

14. A vault light frame comprising a supporting member havingrectangular slot in its upper surface, and a nl`shaped safety treadhaving its vertical portion fitted into said slot with its transverseportion restiug on members on either side of said slot.

15. A vault light iframe comprising a sup'- porting member having a slotin its upper surface, and a T-shaped safety tread having its verticalportion fitting into said slot with its transverse portion resting onmembers on surface, a T-shaped safety tread having its vertical portion:hitting into said slot with its transverse portion resting on memberson either side olf said slot, the ends of said tread being beveled, andwedges adapted to be secured in said slot in engagement with said endsfor holding the tread in the slot.

18. A vault light trame comprising a sup porting member .havinga slot inits upper surface, a T-Shaped safety tread having. its vertical portionfitting into said slot with its transverse portion resting on members oneither side o'li said slot, the ends oit said tread being beveled, andscrews having wedge shaped heads screwed in said slot in engagement withsaid ends for holding the WILLIAM L. VALKR`

